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Clay soil drainage

Morning all, I have a couple of jobs to quote for. One is to remove a neglected and overgrown lawn and replace with gravel, the other is already gravelled but has poor drainage.Both areas slope and the owners are concerned about water build up by the house. I have heard about boring 0.5m deep vertical holes at regular intervals to act as soak aways.Does this really work? Is there a better alternative? Is it all relevant to each particular garden?Any advice would be appreciated.Regards, Darren

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  • Boring holes does make a difference, fill them with sharp sand and grit.

  • It depends on what is underneath. If its clay clay clay then the water will just sit in the holes. Bette off digging a channel to a drain or other area you know the water will disperse and put a perforated pipe in the bottom and cover with decent sized clean stone. cover with membrane and then your gravel. In my opinion sand would quickly clog up.

  • Boring holes works well if you have a compaction layer. Then your boring through that layer and allowing water to soak away.

    It is always site specific with drainage.

    The gravel area has poor drainage? Have you considered the natural water table? Have you investigated what is underneath the gravel?
  • PRO
    I haven't investigated what is underneath yet as I would prefer to approach these jobs armed with a little more knowledge care of the experience of those on here like yourself.

    With regard to the natural water table, could it possibly be a case that there is nothing we can do?

    Green Hand said:
    Boring holes works well if you have a compaction layer. Then your boring through that layer and allowing water to soak away.

    It is always site specific with drainage.

    The gravel area has poor drainage? Have you considered the natural water table? Have you investigated what is underneath the gravel?
  • Darren,

    I wouldn't say there is nothing that can be done however it will come down to budget.

    Hear is a few questions I would be asking/considering its not an exhaustive list I am sure so feel free to edit as you see fit:

    Q:
    How long has the drainage been an issue?

    How bad is the issue?
    Is it just slow to drain or is it sitting water?

    Is it a new build?
    Notorious for compaction issues.

    Has any heavy equipment been stored or travelled across the area in the past?

    When and how was the gravel laid?
    Walking over clay in the wrong weather conditions can cause compaction also maybe heavy equipment was used.
    I have also seen the wrong kind of landscape fabric used under gravel preventing good drainage.

    Where is the natural water table and how is it affecting the site?
    This would not be a problem in most cases but is worth considering

    Where is the natural flow of surface water and how is water peculating through?
    If the site is in a geographical sump even with great drainage it will take a long time to peculate to the site then have to drain away.

    Soil profile?
    I would suggest digging a profile pit (assuming your client is happy and there is a need for you to investigate as this would be chargeable of course), if you have a compaction pan you will soon know it intimately. In addition you can learn a huge amount about the soil by doing this. There could be a variety of things going on under the surface.

    Depending on the site (and budget) there are a lot of solutions from French drains and soak away's to digging a subterranean sump and installing a pump.

    I am sorry to give you more questions to ask. When investigating drainage issues
    I find it helpful to keep in the forefront of my mind that water travels the path of least resistance.

    I hope this helps, Happy investigating.

    Mark

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